10 Plants That Shook the World

Gr 5–8—Richardson explores the interrelationships of 10 plants with worldwide politics, medicine, and culture. Each chapter begins with a fictional character's story and then describes the natural history of the plant; its importance to humans; and how it was grown, processed, and used over time. Although often associated only with paper, papyrus was valued as a versatile contributor to daily life in ancient Egypt-from food to rope, blankets, baskets, sails, sandals, and medicine. The politics surrounding tea and rubber are sketched in, with the Boston Tea Party tax protest as just one example of the role tea has played in American, British, and Chinese history. Rubber likewise played a vital part throughout history, from the ancient Mayan's deadly ball games to 19th-century horticultural espionage involved in sneaking seeds from Brazil to Great Britain. Imaginative, full-color drawings appear on almost every page, and photographs amplify the text throughout. A double-page world map provides an overview of where these plants originated, and a two-page index links readers to details within each chapter. This title will be useful for reports and provide fun browsing and reading as well.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA